Our programs are immersive ones, allowing students to plunge independently into Irish life through Irish universities and culture, while still retaining the nurturing support typical of Notre Dame. As international students, undergraduates integrate themselves into their new universities, living and studying with Irish and international classmates, while also taking courses exploring Ireland’s history, culture, and literature at O’Connell House. We emphasize learning ‘through the soles of your feet’ as our program takes students to all four corners of the island.
Our guiding principle is to avoid material easily accessible to tourists, instead engaging our students in activities in which Irish people themselves are interested. The Notre Dame brand, our web of connections, and the intimately scaled program allow us unprecedented access. The city of Dublin and the country of Ireland are our classroom, and we prioritize T-Shaped Learning — immersed and experiential. We engage constantly with our students, nurturing their intellectual passions and encouraging them to pursue them in every way possible.
We design our cultural enrichment to dovetail with our courses: attending performances at the Abbey Theatre, field trips highlighting the Troubles in Northern Ireland and life in Connaught or Munster, experiencing Gaelic sports in Croke Park, and encountering Irish music and dance in the city and the country. We schedule weekly speakers in our Understanding Ireland series, and furnish our students with the necessary contexts beforehand to maximize the educational and cultural benefits.